The Imposter Bride (Natalia and Magnus)

Magnus was seething, his disdain for Alice churning like a tempest. He wished she'd vanish off the face of the Earth, never to cross his path again. The thought of giving her a chance to redeem herself was more than he could stomach; in his eyes, Alice was utterly unworthy.

But Natalia, with her earnest, pleading gaze, melted his resolve. Reluctantly, he nodded, a storm cloud of annoyance brewing on his face. "Let's go. But mark my words, there won't be a next time." With a serious look, Magnus turned to Henry, his voice laced with a warning. "I don't care how powerful your background is or the extent of your influence. I'm only letting this slide because of my wife. If Alice doesn't change her ways and crosses me again, I'll make sure she understands the true meaning of a living hell."

Henry's face twisted in discomfort. Acknowledging that Alice had indeed instigated the situation, he found no grounds to argue with Magnus.

With a frosty expression, Magnus took Natalia's hand, left the villa, and instructed his men outside, "Prepare the speedboat. We're heading to that deserted island."

As the men nodded and started to move, Henry interjected, "We have a speedboat. There's no need for you to go through all that trouble."

"What are you waiting for? Go!" Magnus barked at his men before turning to Henry. "I handle my own business. Especially when it comes to the safety of my people. I don't rely on outsiders."

Henry, usually quick to rise to a challenge, was silenced by Magnus' rebukes. But he was desperate to save Alice and swallowed his pride, pretending not to hear Magnus' jabs.

Natalia gently tugged at Magnus' sleeve, signaling him to ease the tension. Magnus patted her shoulder reassuringly, indicating she needn't worry. He didn't take Henry seriously - if it weren't for his wife's pleading, he wouldn't have given Henry the time of day.

Soon, the men reported the speedboat was ready. Magnus boarded with Natalia wrapped in his arms while Henry followed onto his own yacht.

The vessels sliced through the water under the bright moonlight, heading for the desolate island that held Alice captive. The sea breeze was strong, and the speedboat's wake sprayed the deck with a rhythmic patter.

Natalia felt a chill, and huddled into herself. Magnus slipped off his jacket and draped it over Natalia's shoulders before pulling her close. "Cold?"

Shaking her head, Natalia replied, "A little, but not anymore."

"Good," Magnus said, relieved. He glanced back at Henry, following in another speedboat, and murmured, "My dear, your heart is too kind. Some people don't deserve forgiveness."

Natalia knew he referred to their decision to let Henry pick up Alice. She leaned into Magnus, her eyes shining. "Mercy begets mercy. I want to gather blessings for our daughter, hoping she returns to us safe and sound."

Magnus hadn't expected such foresight from Natalia, and his heart swelled with tenderness. Beside her, his own spirit seemed narrow. How could he not be utterly bewitched by her?

The speedboat hurtled towards the island, finally slowing as they neared their destination. Magnus helped Natalia off the boat, cautioning, "Be careful."

On the other hand, Henry leaped from his vessel and dashed across the island, calling out, "Alice! Alice!"

The island was dark, save for the moonlight, revealing the rocky terrain beneath their feet.

Walking alongside Magnus, Natalia surveyed the area but saw no sign of Alice, only the remnants of frayed rope on the ground. The sight eased her somewhat. Despite Alice's cruelty, it wouldn't do for Henry to see that they had tied her up and left her to her fate on the island.

"Alice! Alice!" Henry's voice echoed closer, signaling he'd circled the island to no avail.

Natalia and Magnus exchanged a glance, both wondering if Alice might not have been on the island at all.

Henry approached, panting slightly from the urgency. "Natalia, are you sure it's this island?"

"Yes, I'm certain. Alice abandoned me here once. I could never forget this place," Natalia confirmed, the memory of desolation unforgettable.

"I've searched the entire island and found no trace of her," Henry said, approaching them, his breath shallow with concern.

"I don't know where she..." Natalia's words were cut short as she stumbled, nearly tripping.

"Careful." Magnus caught her swiftly, preventing a fall.

Looking down, they discovered the culprit - a high heel, unmistakably Alice's, often seen on her feet.

Pointing to the shoe, Natalia called Henry over, "Look, this is Alice's."

Henry rushed to examine the shoe. It was stained with dried blood and covered in sandy grit, likely abandoned for at least a couple of days. A sinking feeling gripped Henry. The island offered no means of survival, and with no sign of Alice, he feared the worst.

He glared at Magnus, accusation in his voice, "You're heartless. Did you leave Alice on this island to starve?"

"Hmph!" Magnus snorted with a dismissive air. "Heartless, are we? Get your facts straight, okay? This godforsaken island was Alice's idea of a perfect prison for my wife, and now you have the gall to accuse us of cruelty? What a joke-it's like the pot calling the kettle black!"

Natalia chimed in, "Look, I've been marooned here long enough myself. But it's not like I starved, okay? There are coconut palms and a small grove of banana trees. Surviving a month or two is a piece of cake."

Henry was momentarily lost for words, hearing how Alice had treated Natalia in the same harsh way. But his concern for Alice's safety gnawed at him, his eyes clouded with anguish. "The problem is, I can't find her anywhere on this island. It's surrounded by water; she couldn't have just left. And this abandoned shoe of hers with blood on it... I just hope to God nothing terrible has happened to her."